A really close friend got deported the other day after spending 18 months in a federal prison. His crime, being in the wrong place at the wrong time with the wrong people. Their excuse for deportation is that his green card expired while in prison and didn't have a job before he was arrested. Now his children is wondering if they will ever see their dad soon, his Mom and family is working the legal system. So it is up in the air on his situation.

Something I found in my wandering, have no idea who wrote it, but he/she must have been a very thoughtful person.

Go placidly amid the noise & haste, & remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible without surrender be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly & clearly; and listen to others, even the dull & ignorant; they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself to others, you may become vain and bitter; for always there will be greater & lesser persons than yourself. Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested...

Ah, the start of the holiday season. My worst time of the year.

Just spent most of the damn day, reformatting, setting partitions, re-installing XP after a major crash last night. A great learning experience, but, still a bitch to contend with.

This is the last poem swim wife had published before her MS took her pen away.

People speak in irony every day
or maybe just opposites...maybe lies
they say they love you
with contempt in their eyes
and they smile at you

Children play in the streets
and they look so innocent, untouched
by sorrow
it's a shame they have to grow up to
worry about tomorrow
if there is one

History is destined to repeat itself
so it seems
ghosts from the past haunt you in
your dreams every night
and you wake up screaming.